Whats New 2017
The integral role of the human element
The human element lies at the heart of IMO’s work on safety, maritime security and pollution prevention. The integral role of people is set out in the “Human element vision, principles and goals for the Organization” and in the guidelines for the work of IMO committees and sub-committees. During the China Maritime Forum and International Conference on Seafarers and Services, Ningbo, China (11-12 July), held to celebrate China’s Maritime Day, IMO’s Hiro Yamada provided an overview of IMO’s activities which relate to seafarers and the human element. more...
Ocean sustainability in focus
Protecting and sustaining the
world’s oceans are once again in the spotlight at the United Nations in New
York this week (10-14 July). Moves to develop a legally binding international
treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity
in areas beyond national jurisdiction – known as ‘BBNJ’ – are continuing with
the 4th meeting of a preparatory committee to work on the
draft elements of a future text. And this week also sees a high-level political forum (the HLPF) which will review, in depth, progress being made towards a
number of the Sustainable Development Goals. more...
Wreck removal treaty ratified by Croatia
IMO’s Nairobi International Convention
on the Removal of Wrecks has been ratified by Croatia, bringing the total
number of States to accede to the treaty to 37. The Convention, which entered
into force in 2015, provides the legal basis for States to remove, or have
removed, shipwrecks that may threaten the safety of lives, goods and property
at sea, as well as the marine environment. more...
Honduras accedes to Ballast Water Management Convention
The number of States signed up to IMO’s Ballast Water
Management Convention has reached 61, with Honduras being the latest country
acceding to the treaty. The signatories now represent 68.46 % of the world's
merchant fleet tonnage. Under the treaty, ships are required to manage their
ballast water, which can contain thousands of aquatic or marine microbes,
plants and organisms, which are then carried across the globe. more...
Empowering port women
An IMO training course for female officials from maritime and/or port authorities of developing countries to improve management and operational efficiency of their ports has taken place in Le Havre, France (26 June – 7 July). Participants from 20 countries* took part in the two-week “Women in Port Management” course, which included lectures on subjects such as port management, port security, port marine environment, facilitation of maritime traffic, the ship/port interface and organization of a container terminal.
Low-carbon shipping alliance gains momentum
Just days after the announcement by IMO of the ground-breaking Global Industry Alliance (GIA), another
commercial company has joined the initiative to help shipping and related
industries transition towards a low-carbon future. The Grimaldi Group, a global shipping and logistics
company, has become the fourteenth company to join the GIA, a public-private
partnership initiative in which 'industry champions' from various sectors of
the industry come together to tackle the challenges of decarbonizing the
shipping sector. more...
Thailand accedes to conventions covering oil pollution damage
Thailand has become the latest State to accede to the international conventions on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC) and the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage (Fund). The CLC Convention ensures that compensation is available to people who suffer oil pollution damage from maritime casualties involving oil-carrying ships, and places liability on the owner of the ship from which the polluting oil escaped or was discharged. more...
Security for sustainability
How can human security help achieve the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and its associated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? That’s one of the key issues being examined at a high-level event today (7 July) at UN Headquarters in New York. Organised by the UN Human Security Unit, the event will feature a panel discussion providing global, regional, UN system and civil society perspectives on applying human security to Agenda 2030. Delegates will take the opportunity to share experiences and lessons learned on how a human security approach can help strengthen strategies, tools and partnerships to accelerate integrated and preventive actions towards achieving the SDGs. IMO’s Chris Trelawny is in attendance.
Marine Environment Protection Committee opens
The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 71) is now under way (3-7 July). A key item on the agenda is the implementation of the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention. The Committee will consider draft amendments to the BWM Convention which will determine the implementation schedule for installations of ballast water management systems. The Committee is also set to address the prevention of atmospheric pollution from ships, including the reduction of GHG emissions. The MEPC was opened by Secretary-General Kitack Lim and is being chaired by Arsenio Dominguez (Panama). Click for photos. more...